Free school meals

You're eligible for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (if you do not get Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on. Paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit. Your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

If your child is eligible for free school meals in primary school, they’ll stay eligible until they finish primary school on 31 March 2026.

If your child is eligible for free school meals in secondary school, they’ll stay eligible until they finish secondary school on 31 March 2026.

All children in Reception, Year 1 to Year 2 are eligible for Universal Infant Free School Meals. We recommend that you still complete the application form below to register. If you do not complete a free meal application form you will have to pay for meals from Year 3.